A volley of shots have been fired over the coffin of senior republican
John Brady who died in “mysterious” circumstances while being questioned
at a PSNI police station.

British officials have said Mr Brady killed himself after his
questioners stepped outside the room. The 40-year-old was on weekend
parole from prison when he was arrested following a domestic dispute.

His family have said the PSNI was responsible for his death. A Police
Ombudsman’s investigation into his death is underway.

Four men dressed in military uniform and black masks today flanked the
coffin at the deceased Volunteer’s home in Strabane, County Tyrone.

Three men fired shots into the air over the coffin before it was moved
to the church for the funeral mass.

The coffin was draped in the tricolour and topped with a black beret and
gloves and a guard of honour of some 50 men in white shirts and black
ties and trousers lined the route from the house.

Between 300 and 400 people gathered outside the house for what was a
traditional republican military funeral.

On the previous evening, a uniformed colour party stood guard beside the
open coffin inside the house as crowds came to pay their last respects.

There were relief that the PSNI did not attempt to intervene in the
funeral but a PSNI helicopter hovered a short distance away.

Following the funeral service at the Church of the Immaculate Conception
in Strabane, Mr Brady was buried at Doneyloop cemetery in County
Donegal where his father is interred.

On Monday, a protest vigil was held outside Derry’s Strand Road PSNI
station. It was organised by the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP)
and was also attended by members of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement
and the Republican Network for Unity.

Around 200 republicans, many holding black flags, stood in the middle of
Stand Road outside the PSNI station carrying posters reading ‘Justice
for John Brady.’ Relatives and friends of Mr Brady were also in
attendance.

At the protest, Willie Gallagher from the IRSP unequivocally said the
PSNI were responsible.

“The finger of blame is pointing firmly at the police,” he told the
crowd.

Mr Brady’s family have said they do not believe Crown force claims that
he took his own life.

Speaking from her Strabane home, his sister Lorna said: “John would not
do that. I know in my heart of hearts that he would not have done
something like that. People may say that I am in denial but if they knew
John like I knew him they would know he would not have done that. We
have a lot of questions and we need answers,” she said.

Ms Brady said her family believe “something sinister” happened. “We
don’t know a lot of the details yet but there has been a lot of
inconsistencies in what we do know. The family have serious concerns,”
she said.

She said she had spoken to her brother before he was arrested and he was
positive and making plans for the future.

“I was talking to him that morning and he was definitely not in that
frame of mind. He would not have done it to his mother. He would never
put her through that. John would not have done this and if he did I want
to know what they did to drive him to do it,” she said.

She also rejected PSNI claims that her brother took his own life because
he did not want to go back to prison. “It was not a case of going back
to prison; John was still in prison and only released at weekends and
was due to be released in five weeks,” she explained.

Ms Brady also said she is “hopeful” the Police Ombudsman’s investigation
into her brother’s death will bring answers.

“From talking to the Police Ombudsman I believe that they are going to
carry out a thorough investigation. I know it won’t bring John back to
us but we need to know the truth about what happened so hopefully no
other family has to go through this,” she said.

“I am hopeful for the truth but I think ranks will be closed and the
Police Ombudsman will find it hard to get at the truth. The police
didn’t give John any peace in life and they have not given him peace in
death either because they have been driving past my mother’s house,” she
said.

She added, “I campaigned for justice for John when he was alive and I’m
willing to campaign in his death. Because until the day I die I want to
find out the truth.

“Five weeks to go until he should have been released and this happens.”

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